Folding crate.



No. 774,301. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

' E. M. AVERILL.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. 1904.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

3 1 1 Witnesses: J Inventor,

W H I I Ht koms.

PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

r E. M. AVERILL.

FOLDING CRATE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAY 23. 1904. N0 MODEL. 2SHEETS-SHEET 2. b

J3 J4 7 J3 14 7' Em; M. 7??767214, nventor, b w

' I Fittomeg. I

' NITED STATES Patented November 8, 1904.

ELIAS M. AVERILL, OF SPARTA, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 774,301, dated November8, 1904. 7

Application filed May 23, 1904. Serial No. 209,342. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIAS M. AVERILL, a citizen of the UnitedStates,resid ing at Sparta, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan,have invented a new and useful Folding Crate, of which the following isa specification.

This invention relates generally to shippingcrates, and particularly toone adapted for use in the transportation or storage of fruits, such aspeaches, plums, apples, boxed berries, and the like.

The object of the invention is to present a crate which will combinesimplicity and cheapness of construction with the highest efficiency anddurability in use and one which may be readily collapsed or knocked downwhen desired.

A further object of the invention is to reduce the cost of production ofthe crate to the lowest possible figure by dispensing with expensiveforms of fastening devices and other accessories in the nature ofhinges, staples, and the like and relying entirely upon nails forholding the parts of the crate assembled and also for presenting thenecessary hinge members to permit the top to be opened and to allow thecrate to be collapsed.

l/Vith the above and other objects in view, as will appear as the natureof the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novelconstruction and combination of parts of a shipping crate, as will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts,there is illustrated one form of embodiment of the invention capable ofcarrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that theelements therein exhibited may be varied or changed as to shape,proportion, and exact manner of assemblage without departing from thespirit thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a crateconstructed in accordance with the present invention, the cover beingclosed. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the cover raised. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the crate, showing the same collapsed. Fig. 4 is aperspective view exhibiting the body portion of the crate partiallycollapsed. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing one manner of assembling theframe-sections of the crate. Fig.

6 is a similar view showing a slightly-modified form of fastener forholding the top or bottom from accidental opening.

The crate comprises an upper and lower section 1 and 2, either of whichmay constitute the top, two end sections 3 and 4c, and two side sections5 and 6, the end and side sections being assembled in such manner as topermit of their being folded flat when collapsed, as shown in Fig. 3.

Each of the sections 1 and 2 consists of two frame-pieces 7, connectedand held in paral lelism by slats 8, nailed to their inner sides, eachof the end sections 3 and 4 of two framepieces 9, connected and held inparallelism by slats 10, nailed to their inner sides, and each of theside sections 5 and 6 by two frame-pieces 11, connected and held inparallelism by slats 12, nailed to their outer sides. This arrangementis adopted to permit the crate to be folded fiat when knocked down andwill also insure ample ventilation of the contents, as where a series ofcrates are superposed one upon the other there will always be space forentrance of air through the top, bottom, and ends.

The ends of the frame-pieces9 are provided with kerfs 13, and the innersides of thefran'nepieces? are provided with longitudinal kerfs 14,these kerfs being provided to receive the assembling devices 15, whichare preferably wire nails of any, desired size and are made detachableby engagement with the kerfs 14L, thus to permit of'the parts of thecrate to be separated when being transhipped. The walls of the kerfs 1 Lexert a clamping action upon the nails, which will operate to hold theparts of the crate positively assembled and will at the same time permitremoval when necessary for the purpose above stated.

The frame-pieces 11 are combined with the frame-pieces 9 through themedium of nails 16, which are driven vertically into the parts and arearranged back of the center in order to allow the crate to be folded inthe manner shown in Fig. 3. Otherwise if these nails 16 were placedcentrally of the frame-pieces 9 they would not only interfere with thenails 15, but would also prevent thecrate from being folded flat in themanner shown in Fig. 3.

As before stated, the slats are secured to the inner sides of the upper,lower, and end sections of the crate and the outer sides of the sidesections, and by this arrangement thorough ventilation of the contentsof the crate is assured when the crates are superposed. While this isthe preferred form of arranging the sheathing formed by the slats, it isto be understood that all the slats may be placed on the inner sides ofthe sections or all on the outer sides thereof without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

The nails 15, which serve to hold the framepieces assembled, alsoconstitute locking means to prevent the top or bottom from accidentallyopening, it being seen that either the upper or lower section mayconstitute the top or bottom, according to which of the nails arewithdrawn to permit the part to be thrown back. Instead of employingnails as fastening and assembling devices for these parts a wire bail 17may be employed, the sides of which will rest in the kerfs i l and willbe movable therein, so that when pulled outward the terminals of theside members of the bail will enter the kerfs 13, and thus hold theparts of the crate with which they coact properly assembled. .The bailswill be held from accidental separation from the frame-pieces 7 throughthe medium of the nails 18 that serve to hold the sheathing assembledwith the upper and lower sections.

As will be readily understood, in order to manufacture and sell cratesof this character they must be made at the very lowest possible cost,and to secure this result all superfluous lumber and fastening devicesor hinges must be dispensed with. It will be seen by the arrangementshown that the least possible lumber is employed in the construction ofthe crate, that the parts are so assembled as to present a strong andsubstantial structure, and that hinges and locking devices are dispensedwith, the nails employed at the corners of the frame-pieces serving adual function of assembling devices and hinges.

When the crate is to be knocked down for the purpose of transhipment,the nails 15 are withdrawn and the top and bottom sections removed, asshown in Fig. 4, after which the side and end sections are folded fiatupon themselves, with the upper and lower sections disposed against theopposite sides of the folded structure, as shown in Fig. 3.

A further advantage of the crate herein disclosed is derived from thefact that the end walls have the slats or filling members secured to theinner surfaces of the frame members, thus providing suitable grips orhandles at the ends of the crate by which the receptacle may beconveniently carried. Moreover, it is preferred similarly to constructthe top and bottom wallsnamely, with the slats or fillers secured to theinner surfaces of the frame members. This arrangement of the top,bottom, and end walls provides for ventilation when the crates arepacked closely together in transit or when stored, while the dispositionof the slats or fillers of the side walls on the exterior surfaces ofthe frame members economizes space, while permitting a close, compact,and efiicie-nt folding of the crate members when in a knocked-downcondition.

Havingthus described the invention, what is claimed is* 1. A cratecomprising side and end sections each of which consists of frame-piecesand slats secured thereto and held in parallelism, the frame-pieces ofthe end sections being provided at their terminals with kerfs, nailspassing through the last-named framepieces to one side of the centerthereof and entering the ends of the frame-pieces of the side sections,top and bottom sect-ions having frame-pieces provided on their innerfaces with longitudinal kerfs to aline with those of the frame-pieces ofthe end sections, and detachable fastening devices engaging the two setsof kerfs.

2. A crate comprising side, end, top and bottom sections, each of whichis composed of two frame-pieces connected and held in parallelism byslats, the frame-pieces of the end sections being provided at theirterminals with kerfs, nails passing through the framepieces of the saidends and entering the framepieces of the side sections to hold the partspivotally connected, framepieces provided with longitudinal kerfsadapted to aline with those of the frame-pieces of the end sections, andbails movably mounted in the longitudinal kerfs and adapted to havetheir terminals moved into engagement with the kerfs of the endframe-pieces.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELIAS M. AVERILL.

\Vitnesses:

A. B. CHENEY, ETTA NORTON.

